MATTY LEE CRITICISES IOC PRESIDENT OVER ATHLETE PAY STANCE

Olympic gold medallist diver Matty Lee has publicly criticised International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry for her position that athletes should not be paid at the Olympic Games. Lee, who won the 10m synchronised diving title alongside Tom Daley at the 2021 Tokyo Games, described Coventry's comments as deeply unwelcome. He told an interviewer the remarks felt like being stabbed in an open wound. Lee said he was not alone in his disappointment.

Coventry, a former swimmer who won seven Olympic medals including gold in 2004 and 2008, made the remarks in her capacity as IOC president. The IOC's own financial report confirmed the organisation generated $12.4bn (£9.2bn) between 2021 and 2024. Lee trained for the Tokyo Olympics on an initial salary of £12,000 a year, and said he currently has no house, no mortgage, and few assets 18 months after retiring. He stated he wakes each morning without feeling happy and has struggled to find purpose since leaving the sport after 19 years.

Coventry subsequently issued a clarification via the IOC's Athlete365 Instagram account, stating she had misspoken and intended to refer specifically to prize money for medallists rather than athlete compensation more broadly. Lee's comments bring public attention to the financial circumstances faced by elite athletes following retirement. The IOC's revenue figures have provided a focal point for athletes arguing the organisation can afford to compensate competitors. No further steps from the IOC on athlete pay have been confirmed.